Washington State

Maternal Mortality Review Panel The Washington State Legislature established a Maternal Mortality Review Panel within the Department of Health in 2016. The Panel reviews maternal deaths in the state and produces findings and recommendations to prevent future maternal deaths.

Goals of the review include determining whether a death was related to pregnancy, whether it was preventable, the factors that contributed to the death, and opportunities for interventions.

By analyzing maternal deaths, the health

system can be more effective at addressing

the factors causing these deaths.

The MMRP is made up of more than 60 perinatal and women’s health and service professionals from diverse backgrounds who live and work throughout the state. Panel members are appointed by the Secretary of Health and serve on the panel for three to five years. Panel members must adhere to strict confidentiality rules and have no access to any identifiable information. Panel members are not paid for their participation.

October 2019

100 Pregnancy-associated deaths

Death of a woman during pregnancy or

within a year of pregnancy from any cause.

30 Pregnancy-related deaths

Death of a woman during pregnancy or

within a year of pregnancy from a

pregnancy complication, a chain of events

initiated by pregnancy, or the aggravation

of an unrelated condition by the

physiologic effects of pregnancy.

60%

Pregnancy-related

deaths were preventable

Maternal Deaths 2014-2016

DOH 141-012

For persons with disabilities, this document is available

in other formats. Please call 800-525-0127 (TTY 711) or

email civil.rights@doh.wa.gov

Summary of findings from the

review of 2014-2016 maternal

deaths Rates of maternal mortality in Washington are

stable. Historical data collected on maternal deaths

that occurred between 2000 and 2016 show maternal

mortality rates in Washington varied over time, but are

relatively stable and are not increasing like they are

nationally.

In 2014-2016, there were:

100 pregnancy-associated deaths, which are deaths that occurred during pregnancy or within the

first year after pregnancy from any cause.

This includes deaths from all types of causes, including obstetric complications, motor vehicle accidents,

cancer, and homicide.

30 pregnancy-related deaths, which are deaths that the state’s maternal mortality review panel decided were directly caused by or linked to complications from pregnancy, a chain of events started by pregnancy, or an unrelated condition that

was made worse by pregnancy.

Find out more about maternal deaths in

Washington State and what is being done to

improve health care for women. Go to

doh.wa.gov/maternalmortality.

Maternal Mortality Review Coordinator

Prevention and Community Health

Washington State Department of Health

maternalmortalityreview@doh.wa.gov

The leading causes of pregnancy-related

deaths were mental and behavioral health

conditions

The leading underlying cause of pregnancy-related

deaths (N=30) were mental and behavioral health

conditions (30%), suicide and substance overdose/

poisoning). This was followed by hemorrhage during

childbirth or soon after, (20%) and hypertensive

disorders in pregnancy (10%).

60% of pregnancy-related deaths occurred

during pregnancy or within the first six

weeks of pregnancy.

The leading factors contributing to deaths

include access to health care services,

quality of care and provider skill, and lack

of care coordination.

The Maternal Mortality Review Panel identified factors that contributed to pregnancy-related

deaths, including:

Access to health care services,

Gaps in continuity of care (especially

postpartum),

Gaps in clinical skill and quality of care (including delays in diagnoses, treatment,

referral and transfer), and